Even at this age, i just keep learning.

i have learned to live with maladies, injuries, and possible improvements and cures. i’ve learned how lucky i am to have avoided any serious ones up until this past year.

In regard to those maladies, i have confirmed that Preventive Maintenance as i learned it in the Navy on my first ship and practiced until the last ship serves one well if they practice it in their personal health.

i have learned that politics is nasty, that those in the field spend more time getting reelected and hating the opposition than serving the people.

i have learned there are lots of people, smart, good people even, who will believe anything if it makes them feel good about what they already believe, and hate, not understanding is the major factor for disregarding truth, and that hate is driven in turn by fear.

i have learned that every group of people regardless of how they are grouped are the same. Those groups have good, well-intended people who are concerned with the welfare of all the group. Those groups have people just trying to make a living and not make waves. They all have scoundrels with no concern about others who will stoop to the lowest level of the human kind to get what they want. In fact, nearly all groupings are mirrored by the others.

i have learned that “easier” is not the path to happiness and satisfaction, that hard work is satisfying, and doing a job well can give one a feeling of accomplishment, regardless of the complexity or difficulty.

I have learned that college and professional sports are no longer “sports.” They are now careers in the entertainment business. i still watch to see great athletes perform, but i’m now limiting my watching to teams that are my favorites. i do this with a sense of humor when fans frothing at the mouth do really stupid things to be on the screen, and when commercials are stupid, which is most of the time. i don’t laugh at sports announcers or many supposedly sports media experts: i cry.

i have learned that “dressing up” for occasions, even just a dining out with my wife or friends makes me feel good about myself. i try to follow Dave Carey’s dictum of dressing up one level from the group with whom you are meeting is a good practice. (Apparently, this is not the case with anyone two decades younger than me, and i do not fault them.)

i have learned that treating folks as equals, dealing with them truthfully, and not trying to impress one’s own beliefs upon them can produce wonders.

i have learned that younger folks treat older folks differently. i am a “has been,” and my thoughts are viewed as antiquated, not in touch. There is a touch of respect and understanding, even caring, but they won’t listen to what i have to say.

i have learned that my memories are precious and a fuel to keep on living as best i can.

i have learned that living has no right answer. If you have your right answer, it won’t be the right answer for others. Compatability of right answers are as good as it’s going to get.

i have learned to consider all of the possible risks and benefits of whatever decision is facing me before making a decision, any decision. This should be done with the knowledge that even that may not bring about the results i desire.

i have learned i should live attempting to do what’s right. Often that is the toughest of the choices.

And i have learned that my friends, regardless of political, religious, financial beliefs are a treasure to me, and i appreciate them all.

So, today, i wish all of you the best on my happy 82nd birthday. We’ve got several more left, i think, but i still hope all of you outlast me…and i hope to live as long as my father, one month shy of 99, and my mother, one month shy of 97.